¹Whoever keeps the Law

gives many offerings;

²whoever obeys the commandments

makes a sacrifice of well-being.

³Whoever repays a kindness

offers the finest flour,

⁴and whoever does an act of charity

makes a sacrifice of praise.

⁵Staying away from wickedness

pleases the Lord,

and keeping away from injustice

means reconciliation.

⁶Don’t come into the Lord’s presence

empty-handed,

⁷since fulfilling the commandments

means making offerings.

⁸The righteous person’s offering

enriches the altar,

and its pleasing odor comes

before the Most High.

⁹A righteous person’s offering

is acceptable,

and its memory will last forever.

¹⁰Honor the Lord generously,

and don’t skimp

on the early produce you present.

¹¹Every time you give, have a cheerful face,

and dedicate your tithe gladly.

¹²Give to the Most High as he has given,

and give with generosity

from what you have,

¹³because the Lord is the one who repays,

and he will repay you seven times over.

¹⁴Don’t offer a bribe,

because the Lord won’t accept it.

¹⁵Don’t present an unrighteous sacrifice,

because the Lord is a judge,

and he shows no partiality.

¹⁶God will not be partial to the poor,

but he will listen to the complaint

of those who are wronged.

¹⁷God will never ignore an orphan’s plea,

nor that of a widow

when she pours out a complaint.

¹⁸Don’t a widow’s tears fall down

on her cheek,

¹⁹and isn’t her plea against the one

who caused her tears?

²⁰Those who serve with goodwill

will be accepted,

and their prayer will reach to the clouds.

²¹The prayer of the humble passes

through the clouds,

and it will never stop

until it draws near to God.

It will never withdraw

until the Most High takes notice,

²²gives justice for the righteous,

and executes judgment.

Indeed, the Lord will never delay,

nor will he be patient with them

until he crushes the power

of the unmerciful,

²³until he exacts vengeance

on the nations,

until he removes the multitude

of abusive people

and shatters the authority

of the unrighteous,

²⁴until he repays individuals

according to their deeds

and the works of human beings

according to their thoughts,

²⁵until he decides the case of his people

²⁶His mercy is timely in a period

of distress,

like rain clouds in a dry season.